Impact of Phlebotomine Sand Flies on United States Military Operations at Tallil Air Base, Iraq: 5. Impact of Weather on Sand Fly Activity

Abstract

In this study, we examined the effect of weather and moon illumination on sand fly activity, as measured by light trap collections made between 2 May 2003 and 25 October 2004 at Tallil Air Base, Iraq. Wind speed, temperature, dew point, percentage of sky cover, and moon illumination were entered into principal components analysis. The resulting principal components were entered into stepwise regression to develop a model of the impact of the weather on sand fly collections. Wind speed, percentage of sky cover, and moon illumination each had a strong inverse relationship with the number of sand flies collected, whereas temperature displayed a direct relationship to sand fly collections. Our data indicate that sand fly light trap catches at Tallil Air Base are highest on warm, clear nights with low wind speed and minimal illumination from the moon.

The influence of moonlight and lunar periodicity on the efficacy of CDC light trap in sampling Phlebotomus (Larroussius) orientalis Parrot, 1936 and other Phlebotomus sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Ethiopia

“…intermedia was decreased during the brightest (gibbous and full moon) phases of the moon than the dark phases (new and crescent) [28]. Studies in Brazil [29] and in Iraq [11] also reported similar significant negative correlation between moonlight intensity and number of sandflies collected in CDC light traps as shown in the present observation on P. orientalis and other Phlebotomus spp.…”

“…For increased moon illumination in the environment, there is increased ambient light that could compete with the light from the trap, thereby reducing the number of sandflies that will pick up the visual cue from the light trap and be attracted to it [11]. Similarly, the observation that ambient moonlight competes with light traps is supported by the effect of cloud cover on the number of individual noctuid moths caught [32].…”

“…Commonly used techniques for monitoring sandfly populations are CDC light traps and sticky traps [8-10]. However, their trapping efficiency is greatly influenced by various environmental factors such as weather (wind speed, temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, night-length) and lunar illumination [11-13]. The lunar phase is known to influence adult flight behavior of many insects including those of the order Diptera, particularly Culicidae [14,15].…”

Sandfly and Leishmaniasis: A Review

“…Some species of sandfly are autogenous, these species lay butch of eggs without first feeding on blood, female species of sandfly are the disease causing agents [11]. Most anthropophilic (blood sucking arthropods) sand flies bite people outside their tents, houses and accommodation [12].…”

Impact of Phlebotomine Sand Flies on United State Military Operations at Tallil Air Base, Iraq: 6. Evaluation of Insecticides for the Control of Sand Flies

“…Amarasekare and Edelson (2004) reported the residual activity of endosulfan, naled, esfenvalerate, and spinosad decreased with increasing time (0 Ð24 h) after exposure to sunlight and high summer temperatures, whereas Tietze et al (1996) found the half-life of naled was reduced from 8 to 1Ð1.2 h by direct sunlight. As reported by Colacicco-Mayhugh et al (2011) andColeman et al (2006), environmental conditions at TAB were harsh during the period in which we evaluated the various control measures, with high temperatures and winds frequently creating dust storms from the talcum-like silt that blanketed the base and surrounding area. For example, during our routine sand ßy control operations (13 April to 24 September 2003), the average temperature at dusk (1755 hours local time) was 42.8ЊC, with winds of 23.4 km/h and a dew point of 1.4ЊC (weather data were provided by the United States Air Force Weather Detachment Station KQXJ located at Tallil Air Base).…”